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Post by borneobus on Sept 13, 2022 11:45:12 GMT
The U5 is quite useless, provides longer indirect alternative route than other buses. For example: Uxbridge - West Drayton is faster on the 222 West Drayton - Hayes Town is faster on the 350 and GWR There exists the 350 linking both West Drayton and Hayes to Stockley Park Uxbridge - Hillingdon Hospital is faster on multiple routes Doesn't directly serve Brunel University unlike other routes from Uxbridge Uxbridge - Hayes is faster on the U4 The U5 could be withdrawn with minor tweaks to other bus routes in the area, like rerouting the U4 between Uxbridge and Hillingdon Hospital via the U5 route (still retaining the U1 and the U7 on Kingston Lane, the latter of which could be decked and given a frequency increase), One of the U1 or U3 could be rerouted via the U5's routing round Colham Green, again one or both routes could be decked, either then leaving the U5 as a West Drayton-Hayes route or introducing the 698 as a day route but via the U5's routing between Hayes and West Drayton, or swapping the 140 and X140 termini in Harrow and then extending the 140 to West Drayton via the U5 You touch on it but for the corridor between West Drayton and Hayes the U5 is really important - specifically the stops after Church Road (Kings Road -> North Road -> Mulberry Parade -> Lavender Rise / Stockley Road) where the U5 is the sole route before meeting up with the A10 at Stockley Road...you'll be aware that the residential population over the last decade or so has grown hugely at the start of this run of stops with the re-development of the old RAF (LATCC) base here...then in Hayes, Swallowfield Way and North Hyde Road are uniquely served by the U5 in the run up to Fairey Corner. It's not what the route was designed for but recently there was mild disruption on the Elizabeth Line and trains ex Paddington were only going as far as Hayes & Harlington - the shiny new electric Enviro 400 EV City was totally rammed full as we departed H&H Station.
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Post by northlondon83 on Sept 13, 2022 12:17:03 GMT
The U5 is quite useless, provides longer indirect alternative route than other buses. For example: Uxbridge - West Drayton is faster on the 222 West Drayton - Hayes Town is faster on the 350 and GWR There exists the 350 linking both West Drayton and Hayes to Stockley Park Uxbridge - Hillingdon Hospital is faster on multiple routes Doesn't directly serve Brunel University unlike other routes from Uxbridge Uxbridge - Hayes is faster on the U4 The U5 could be withdrawn with minor tweaks to other bus routes in the area, like rerouting the U4 between Uxbridge and Hillingdon Hospital via the U5 route (still retaining the U1 and the U7 on Kingston Lane, the latter of which could be decked and given a frequency increase), One of the U1 or U3 could be rerouted via the U5's routing round Colham Green, again one or both routes could be decked, either then leaving the U5 as a West Drayton-Hayes route or introducing the 698 as a day route but via the U5's routing between Hayes and West Drayton, or swapping the 140 and X140 termini in Harrow and then extending the 140 to West Drayton via the U5 You touch on it but for the corridor between West Drayton and Hayes the U5 is really important - specifically the stops after Church Road (Kings Road -> North Road -> Mulberry Parade -> Lavender Rise / Stockley Road) where the U5 is the sole route before meeting up with the A10 at Stockley Road...you'll be aware that the residential population over the last decade or so has grown hugely at the start of this run of stops with the re-development of the old RAF (LATCC) base here...then in Hayes, Swallowfield Way and North Hyde Road are uniquely served by the U5 in the run up to Fairey Corner. It's not what the route was designed for but recently there was mild disruption on the Elizabeth Line and trains ex Paddington were only going as far as Hayes & Harlington - the shiny new electric Enviro 400 EV City was totally rammed full as we departed H&H Station. You're right about the West Drayton-Hayes corridor, but north of West Drayton I don't think the U5 is the best route in the area, with the 222 and U4 providing quicker alternatives to key destinations. Not saying the U5 should be withdrawn but if it did, the 698 could be adapted to run as a normal route via the U5's routing between Hayes and West Drayton, though it would be nice if Shepiston Lane had a normal bus route too.
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Post by borneobus on Sept 13, 2022 13:02:20 GMT
You touch on it but for the corridor between West Drayton and Hayes the U5 is really important - specifically the stops after Church Road (Kings Road -> North Road -> Mulberry Parade -> Lavender Rise / Stockley Road) where the U5 is the sole route before meeting up with the A10 at Stockley Road...you'll be aware that the residential population over the last decade or so has grown hugely at the start of this run of stops with the re-development of the old RAF (LATCC) base here...then in Hayes, Swallowfield Way and North Hyde Road are uniquely served by the U5 in the run up to Fairey Corner. It's not what the route was designed for but recently there was mild disruption on the Elizabeth Line and trains ex Paddington were only going as far as Hayes & Harlington - the shiny new electric Enviro 400 EV City was totally rammed full as we departed H&H Station. You're right about the West Drayton-Hayes corridor, but north of West Drayton I don't think the U5 is the best route in the area, with the 222 and U4 providing quicker alternatives to key destinations. Not saying the U5 should be withdrawn but if it did, the 698 could be adapted to run as a normal route via the U5's routing between Hayes and West Drayton, though it would be nice if Shepiston Lane had a normal bus route too. Agreed: Hayes-UX U4...and most definitely WD-UX 222 - think the travelling public agree too: 222 (2.46 million pax), U4 (1.44M) and U5 (888k) You're correct re your comments north of West Drayton - you'll be aware that Hillingdon Hospital seems to be an unintentional 'hub' for local routes (U1/U2/U3/U4/U5/U7) so there's inevitably duplication - strange how the U5 then rejoins the Cowley Road and mirrors the 222's run in to Uxbridge but may be that's to serve Station Road (south of Brunel Uni') that no other route operates
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Post by twobellstogo on Sept 13, 2022 13:20:50 GMT
Caveat that I’m not remotely local, but I was in Uxbridge one afternoon last month and the U5 appeared very popular indeed. Are you a regular U5 user? I live in the local area and whilst I don't usually take buses I prefer quicker alternatives like the U4 and the 222 OK : I will bow to your greater knowledge, then. Just don’t be messing with my 229, 715 or K3 😛😂
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Post by vjaska on Sept 13, 2022 14:53:12 GMT
You touch on it but for the corridor between West Drayton and Hayes the U5 is really important - specifically the stops after Church Road (Kings Road -> North Road -> Mulberry Parade -> Lavender Rise / Stockley Road) where the U5 is the sole route before meeting up with the A10 at Stockley Road...you'll be aware that the residential population over the last decade or so has grown hugely at the start of this run of stops with the re-development of the old RAF (LATCC) base here...then in Hayes, Swallowfield Way and North Hyde Road are uniquely served by the U5 in the run up to Fairey Corner. It's not what the route was designed for but recently there was mild disruption on the Elizabeth Line and trains ex Paddington were only going as far as Hayes & Harlington - the shiny new electric Enviro 400 EV City was totally rammed full as we departed H&H Station. You're right about the West Drayton-Hayes corridor, but north of West Drayton I don't think the U5 is the best route in the area, with the 222 and U4 providing quicker alternatives to key destinations. Not saying the U5 should be withdrawn but if it did, the 698 could be adapted to run as a normal route via the U5's routing between Hayes and West Drayton, though it would be nice if Shepiston Lane had a normal bus route too. Surely then, the U5 is merely mis-aligned rather than useless because to be useless, you would have no use at all which the U5 clearly doesn't as it sees usage at 888,000 journeys.
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Post by capitalomnibus on Sept 13, 2022 18:23:45 GMT
I agree, the 357 is the most USELESS route in London. Ever since it was renumbered from 97A and cut back to Chingford Hatch it has been pointless.
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Post by WH241 on Sept 13, 2022 19:18:50 GMT
I agree, the 357 is the most USELESS route in London. Ever since it was renumbered from 97A and cut back to Chingford Hatch it has been pointless. This comes up every so often but thought it was said here the route is busy during peaks?
I nominate the 241 as useless now! The route has no real purpose even with the Royal Wharf extension is will be tiny and is duplicated over the whole route by other services.
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Post by Eastlondoner62 on Sept 13, 2022 20:12:09 GMT
I agree, the 357 is the most USELESS route in London. Ever since it was renumbered from 97A and cut back to Chingford Hatch it has been pointless. This comes up every so often but thought it was said here the route is busy during peaks?
I nominate the 241 as useless now! The route has no real purpose even with the Royal Wharf extension is will be tiny and is duplicated over the whole route by other services. I do wonder why they didn't just send the 330 into there seeing as it terminates on the road outside.
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Post by vjaska on Sept 14, 2022 0:02:11 GMT
I agree, the 357 is the most USELESS route in London. Ever since it was renumbered from 97A and cut back to Chingford Hatch it has been pointless. Except it can't be useless because it has a use and is used - seriously, the title of this thread needs re-wording to something more fitting.
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Post by borneobus on Sept 14, 2022 1:17:39 GMT
I agree, the 357 is the most USELESS route in London. Ever since it was renumbered from 97A and cut back to Chingford Hatch it has been pointless. Except it can't be useless because it has a use and is used - seriously, the title of this thread needs re-wording to something more fitting. I agree, it must be of use to some bus users and accordingly not useless. I don't live near Walthamstow, but a look at the route confirms a) that although it doesn't uniquely serve any bus stops b) it provides the only direct link to Walthamstow shopping and Walthamstow Central (and the Victoria Line) from the area east of Chingford Mount (New Road) that leads into Hatch Lane. Admittedly the 357 is not a heavily used route (419th by pax with 572k versus the 97 which is 43rd with 3.16M) and a cursory glance shows the only 'quieter' DD routes are 428/215 (Walthamstow!)/492/335/498/423/317/412 & 129.
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Post by vjaska on Sept 14, 2022 2:17:22 GMT
Except it can't be useless because it has a use and is used - seriously, the title of this thread needs re-wording to something more fitting. I agree, it must be of use to some bus users and accordingly not useless. I don't live near Walthamstow, but a look at the route confirms a) that although it doesn't uniquely serve any bus stops b) it provides the only direct link to Walthamstow shopping and Walthamstow Central (and the Victoria Line) from the area east of Chingford Mount (New Road) that leads into Hatch Lane. Admittedly the 357 is not a heavily used route (419th by pax with 572k versus the 97 which is 43rd with 3.16M) and a cursory glance shows the only 'quieter' DD routes are 428/215 (Walthamstow!)/492/335/498/423/317/412 & 129. Indeed, it's a much quieter route and it's main purposes is to provide a direct link to Whipps Cross Hospital that parts of Waltham Forest wouldn't have otherwise as well as extra capacity on the busy Walthamstow to Chingford Mount corridor
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Post by londonboy71 on Sept 14, 2022 8:22:47 GMT
How do you find out bus usage?
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Post by borneobus on Sept 14, 2022 8:33:28 GMT
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Post by capitalomnibus on Sept 14, 2022 12:56:12 GMT
I agree, the 357 is the most USELESS route in London. Ever since it was renumbered from 97A and cut back to Chingford Hatch it has been pointless. This comes up every so often but thought it was said here the route is busy during peaks?
I nominate the 241 as useless now! The route has no real purpose even with the Royal Wharf extension is will be tiny and is duplicated over the whole route by other services. Busy only if there is a gap in the 97, otherwise it is nothing but a scratching bus service. If a route like the 48 can go, the 357 is clearly not justified. it only exists because people complained they do not have a bus service serving Whipps Cross from Chingford (depsite the W16 coming close to it) Snoggle always said it was busy when they had the Greyhound stadium at Crooked Billet. it really is further unjustified since no longer going inside the bus station at Walthamstow and loadings can easily be accommodated on a single decker. It was considered withdrawal at the last tender and I was angry it was not, or changed from its current useless form
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Post by capitalomnibus on Sept 14, 2022 13:00:15 GMT
Except it can't be useless because it has a use and is used - seriously, the title of this thread needs re-wording to something more fitting. I agree, it must be of use to some bus users and accordingly not useless. I don't live near Walthamstow, but a look at the route confirms a) that although it doesn't uniquely serve any bus stops b) it provides the only direct link to Walthamstow shopping and Walthamstow Central (and the Victoria Line) from the area east of Chingford Mount (New Road) that leads into Hatch Lane. Admittedly the 357 is not a heavily used route (419th by pax with 572k versus the 97 which is 43rd with 3.16M) and a cursory glance shows the only 'quieter' DD routes are 428/215 (Walthamstow!)/492/335/498/423/317/412 & 129. It only has 3 stops of uniqueness on New Road to give people an alternative to getting to Walthamstow Central. From the middle of New Rd where the Fantaseas swimming pool was, you could reach to Chingford Mount to get the 97 or 215 to Walthamstow Central, or go into the other direction near Chingford Hospital roundabout to get the 212 to Walthamstow Central
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